{"id":236578,"date":"2025-05-11T13:54:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T13:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/entertainment\/art\/the-art-of-retro-inspired-e-art\/"},"modified":"2025-05-11T13:54:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T13:54:27","slug":"the-art-of-retro-inspired-e-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578","title":{"rendered":"The Art of Retro Inspired E-Art"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Painting the Eighties, one bit
\nat a time\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Painting the 80s One Bit At A Time!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

If you have ever wanted to
\ncreate interactive artworks or artworks from alternative mediums such as
\nelectronic waste, this week\u2019s article has you covered with tips, market
\ninsights, and even a brief history of early eighties computing and how it
\nshaped digital art today! We will also be taking a glance at technology inspired artwork and you might just get a few previews of my next creations!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Technology is often sold with
\nbuilt-in obsolescence and most people will probably have some old electronics
\nsitting around that they no longer have a use for. Technology has been
\nproviding creatives with original ways to express themselves since, well,
\ntechnology first existed, but eventually, it stops working and all too often
\nends up buried in the ground, left to leach toxins into the soil and
\ngroundwater supplies. <\/span><\/p>\n

Recycling old electronics is
\nan option, and the best option by far, but the facilities to do this in a safe
\nand sustainable way simply don\u2019t exist everywhere. But there is also a certain
\nbeauty that can be found in looking at something that previously had its very
\nown history. An internet router that communicated with millions of other
\nrouters, a phone that would have been used for countless conversations, or a
\ncamera that took thousands of pictures. So where electronics cannot be
\nrecycled, they can be turned into very unique pieces of art.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Obsolescence<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Obsolescence by Mark Taylor – available now from my stores!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Just a cursory glance around
\nthe internet will demonstrate just how big the market is for this kind of work.
\nYou can see everything from statues to posters, apparel to home appliances.
\nSega \u2013 a company that created coin-operated amusement machines as far back as
\nthe 60s before releasing major systems such as the Genesis (Megadrive elsewhere),
\neven set up a Kickstarter to create a Sonic the Hedgehog themed toaster which
\nwould burn an image of the character into the toast. <\/span><\/p>\n

Regular readers will know that
\ndespite being known perhaps more for my traditional landscapes, for more than
\nthirty years I have been creating technology inspired artworks, video game
\ngraphics, box art, and retro images for vintage gaming collectors. From 8-bit inspired pixel art prints to the artwork used on the side of arcade
\nmachines, and more recently, the artwork for physical packaging used in special
\nedition collectors editions of modern retro-inspired works. <\/span><\/p>\n

Wherever I can, I still use
\nthe original hardware to create the most authentic visuals, it\u2019s extremely
\ndifficult to recreate say a Commodore 64s unique display in something like
\nPhotoshop. If I don\u2019t have access to a physical system I fall back to
\nemulation, a way of getting a modern PC to replicate whatever system from the
\npast. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"electronics<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
One of my workbenches in the studio where I soak test systems and create e-waste art – oh, and also create props! Notice the Commodore 64 to the right of the image – one of a number of systems I use to create authentic retro-inspired art.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

My Eighties inspired
\ncollection, Retro Revival, has become increasingly popular recently and it is a
\nseries that continues to grow and evolve. Throughout this article, you can see
\nsome of my more recent additions to the collection, all of which are deeply
\nrooted in the nostalgia that many collectors have for the true golden age of
\nhome computing and video games. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a niche, vintage and retro
\ngaming and computing have seen a recent resurgence and there are plenty of
\ncollectors who you might never have even thought about previously, let alone
\nreached. This week, I have you covered so that you can at least step onto the
\nvintage technology ladder with a little confidence. <\/span><\/p>\n

Not just prints and paintings\u2026<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Whilst you might not want to
\nextend your talents to manufacturing a Sonic inspired toaster, you might want
\nto consider extending your art portfolio by using electronic waste. In 2019,
\nsome 53.6 million tonnes of electronic waste was produced and yet only 17% of
\nit was recycled sustainably. <\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s perhaps just as
\nconcerning is that the raw materials in the e-waste stream from 2019 was valued
\nat some \u00a344.8 million ($61,44,944 US). The real issue here is that the lost
\nresources are then having to be mined again, depleting the planet’s resources even further while the unrecovered waste is buried within landfills and left to
\ncreate toxins and health issues. Just \u00a37.9 million ($10, 842,789 US) was
\nsustainably recovered through professional recycling and recovery facilities in
\nthe same year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Artists have always found use in things that others have thrown out. What might be perceived as junk
\nwill have some value to someone, and this is almost always the case with
\nvintage technology, even if it is only ever reused to provide spare parts. <\/span><\/p>\n

CRT TVs and monitors are
\nbecoming increasingly difficult to find in working order, yet a serious retro
\nand vintage collector or owner of an original arcade game machine prefer the
\nglow of a CRT over the flat and sharp image produced from a modern screen and
\nthey are happy to pay for that level of authenticity. Now that CRTs are no
\nlonger produced, they are highly sought after by the purists, either for that
\ndistinct original glow or simply because some vintage systems just won\u2019t work
\nat all with a modern display. <\/span><\/p>\n

New CRT production is in
\ndemand, yet no one has started to reproduce them. Perhaps, because we have lost
\nmany of the skills required, but more likely because we have lost the
\ntechnology and the production facilities to produce them, and of course,
\nenvironmentally, CRTs were much bigger and heavier than modern screens and they
\nwere notoriously problematic to dispose of in later years. <\/span><\/p>\n

Interestingly, cassette tapes
\nare something else that has seen a surge in demand of late, and whilst one
\ncompany continued to produce them in small numbers over the years, they were
\nvery much inferior to the tapes of the past. That has recently changed as
\nanother company have now begun production of high-quality tapes, for a premium
\nprice of course. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"cassette<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tools of the Trade by Mark Taylor – Now available in my store!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

This has been welcomed by the
\nretro gaming community who have had to transition to utilising after-market
\nadd-ons that allow SD-Cards to replace the need to load programs from tape, but
\na genuine retro lover would rather wait for a tape to load and listen to the
\nnoise of data being transferred than have something modern that loads the
\nprograms almost instantly. The retro purists prefer authenticity over
\nconvenience and they\u2019re very happy to pay for that authenticity. I think you
\nget the idea, the retro and vintage technology community are actively seeking
\nan anchor to the past, and in big numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Art Projects using E-Waste\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Printed circuit boards can be
\nused as a unique canvas, repurposed into a sculpture or made into a clock, the
\nonly limit for their use is your imagination. For a number of years, I have
\nreused old technologies in the props I created for TV and film, and more
\nrecently I have been taking old technology, deconstructing it and turning it
\ninto functional items such as clocks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Old technology isn\u2019t an overly
\nexpensive medium to create with, so long as you have a constant supply of
\ncomponents. Waste really is just a lack of imagination but when it is turned
\ninto art, it can unsettle the viewer and make them think about their role in
\nadding to the overall problem of generating e-waste. E-Waste can be immensely
\npowerful at conveying some of the most poignant environmental issues that we
\nface today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Much of what we see in the art
\nworld today, be that the performing or visual arts, wouldn\u2019t have been made
\npossible if technology and science had never found a parallel with creative
\npeople. <\/span><\/p>\n

Leonardo Da-Vinci was known
\nfor his forays into the world of technology, Warhol wouldn\u2019t have become quite
\nso well known without the Commodore Amiga computer, and the genre of new media
\nart, a term that had been coined in the 60s wouldn\u2019t have had a hand in the
\nintroduction of the internet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology is as critical to
\nartists as a tube of paint, whether you currently use digital mediums or you
\ncontinue to only use more traditional mediums such as pen and ink. As a digital
\nartist, I\u2019m not only interested in pushing pixels around a screen, I also push
\npaint around a canvas, something I would never have done in a professional
\ncapacity if I hadn\u2019t received a small microcomputer as a Christmas present from
\nmy parents back in 1980.<\/span><\/p>\n

My first steps in home
\ncomputing\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

My passion for technology goes
\nback to me being a small ten-year-old boy growing up in one of England\u2019s newly
\nbuilt \u201cnew towns\u201d. Towns that had been developed to ease the overspill
\npopulation from the major cities. The seventies had been a decade of innovation
\nand a hot summer in 1976, and by the 80s, the new town was thriving with new
\ntechnology companies providing much-needed employment for the grown-ups. Not
\nquite like Silicone Valley, think more like eccentric British inventors in a series
\nof large sheds. <\/span><\/p>\n

By the early 1980s, life had
\nchanged from the life I had known as an even younger child in the 70s. Accessible
\ntechnology seemed to suddenly appear around every corner, beeps, flashing
\nlights, shiny tech, I was suddenly sucked into a digital world before we humans
\neven realised what digital really meant. <\/span><\/p>\n

It was an incredibly important
\ntime in history,\u00a0 it was an era that
\nwould define the tech we see today, and as the population of today reaches a
\ncertain time in life, nostalgia for the period grows stronger by the day. In
\npart, maybe because back in the 80s we never had to wait for a Windows update
\nto do its thing, but in part, because for most kids of the eighties, technology
\ncreated a happy place that meant you could play games with friends on your
\nportable TV after school.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today there is a sizable and
\nfast-growing market for vintage technology. There is also a market for artworks
\ndepicting vintage tech, and there is a market for technology to be implemented
\nwithin art. The question that we need to ask ourselves as professional artists
\nwho are looking to communicate our individual messages to the world, is why
\nwouldn\u2019t we embrace any of that technology when we think about creating our
\nnext masterpiece?<\/span><\/p>\n

In life, change is the
\ndefault, not the exception. Evolution is baked into every aspect of our world,
\nfrom physical growth to scientific progress, it\u2019s little wonder that people
\nlong for stability. Maybe that\u2019s why many of us choose a nostalgic anchor to
\nthe past to remind us of simpler times.<\/span><\/p>\n

My anchor, as many of my
\nregular readers will know, is a combination of the eighties and technology.
\nHaving grown up during the dawn of the home computing age, I feel incredibly
\nlucky to have not just witnessed the beginning of something that has
\nsignificantly changed the world in which we live, but something that I have
\nbeen involved with right from the start. <\/span><\/p>\n

Had it have not been for that
\nsmall microcomputer sitting waiting for me under a Christmas tree in 1980, I\u2019m
\nnot sure I would have ever had an art career at all. I had always loved drawing
\nand painting, just as every child does, but it wasn\u2019t until I began to learn to
\nprogram a computer that I began to see the potential to create art on a screen.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

At this time I had no idea
\nthat anyone had already created artwork using a computer before, but the first
\nart created with a computer had already been created sometime in the sixties.
\nBy the eighties, the process of using a computer to either create or assist
\nwith creating a piece of art had become more prevalent and the term, digital
\nart was first spoken. <\/span><\/p>\n

When I discovered that the not
\nvery powerful device I found under the Christmas tree was capable of producing
\nsome level of visual output, it was a game-changer that opened up a completely
\nnew world of possibilities and it sparked a lifelong passion for the arts, not
\njust digital art, but traditional art too. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"vintage<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Storage Wars by Mark Taylor – now available in my Pixels and Fine Art America stores!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s funny how technology has
\nchanged since the days when I started out creating digital art back somewhere
\naround 1980. In the old days as they\u2019re now known, you needed a small box that
\ncontained extra memory (RAM) to be precariously connected to a not very
\npowerful home computer so that you could do anything remotely half productive
\nwith it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Those small boxes were
\noptional extras that were also kind of essential, and they would wobble and
\ncrash the computer if they hadn\u2019t been attached with the aid of Blue Tack or
\nDuct Tape to keep them in place. Excited fingers would vibrate a table just
\nenough so that you would lose all of the work you had already done, only for it
\nto be replaced with a blank screen and the need to cycle the power off and back
\non. <\/span><\/p>\n

Computer programs were
\navailable on cassette tape, sometimes they would be available on
\ninterchangeable cartridges, and the code to create programs would often be
\nlisted, often incorrectly, in the computer magazines of the time. Those
\nlistings were the reason I learnt to program a computer, after spending a good
\nfew hours diligently typing the listing into the computer you would find out
\nthat somewhere, there would be an error that you would then need to track down
\nand debug.<\/span><\/p>\n

We had, by the eighties, just
\nabout moved on past punch cards and paper tape, transitioning to either huge
\nfloppy discs or compact cassette tape, but we hadn\u2019t moved on when it came to the
\npublic perception of computers. \u00a0Most
\npeople still equated computers with a science fiction future and geeks wearing
\nwhite lab coats huddled around a green screen display in a dimly lit lab. I
\nknew of no one who saw computers as a viable art medium.<\/span><\/p>\n

My interest in art had been
\npiqued, the more I created on screen the more inspired I became to create art
\nusing any medium I could get my hands on, eventually selling my very first
\nlandscape work which was a watercolour painting of Westminster Bridge in London
\nwith a big red double-decker bus driving across it in front of the houses of
\nparliament. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"sunset,<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Glow Over A Dry Stone Wall by Mark Taylor – One of the hundreds of traditional landscapes I have created. This one is also available on my Pixels and Fine Art America Stores!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Landscapes became my thing,
\nyet behind the scenes, I was still creating on any computer I could get my hands
\non. That creativity even stretched to creating computer games on 8-bit
\nmicrocomputers, systems such as the Sinclair Spectrum, Atari 400 and 800, later
\nmoving on to the Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, and eventually the PC.<\/span><\/p>\n

If I wasn\u2019t creating games, I
\nwas creating graphics for other people to use in their games or creating the
\nartwork for the box art and I was suddenly earning real money for doing the
\nthings I loved. That Christmas Day in 1980 didn\u2019t just present me with a
\ncomputer, it presented me with a lifelong career.<\/span><\/p>\n

A brief history of computing
\nin the 80s\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

If you plan on creating art
\nbased on vintage technology or create art directly on vintage technology, then
\nknowing the history of that technology is extremely useful, especially if your
\nintention is to show your art at one of the many thousands of retro events held
\naround the world every year. Don\u2019t worry, I have you covered with this, it\u2019s my
\nother specialist subject having been a collector since I realised that I never
\nthrow any technology away!<\/span><\/p>\n

8-Bit and beyond\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In the States, the 8-bit home
\ncomputer scene wasn\u2019t quite as vibrant as it was over here in the UK. The
\nCommodore 64 did really well in the USA, but come 1983, the American video game
\nbubble burst, while over here in Britain, the scene was becoming busier with
\nmore and more home computers becoming available and their popularity increasing
\nas more and more kids convinced their parents that computers could help with
\nschool work. <\/span><\/p>\n

Computers of the time never
\nreally did help with school work, there were few teachers at the time who understood
\ncomputers quite as well as the kids did.\u00a0
\nBy now, many teenagers were turning into entrepreneurs and creating
\ngames to sell from the comfort of their bedrooms through the power of mail
\norder and placing cheap ads on the back pages of one of the many home computing
\npublications at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a lucrative time for
\nmany bedroom coders. I remember a time when you could turn up to a computer
\nfair to sell your independently produced game and people would constantly be
\nsix or seven deep at the table, literally throwing money at you in return for
\nthe code recorded on a compact cassette tape. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I was earning more money for a
\nfew days of work than both my parents earned in a month, just from creating a
\nprogram that would take a couple of days to code or maybe a week if it was
\nsomething special. Once I had created the code, I would visit a computer fair
\ntwice a month to sell my wares. Amazing times, but it wasn\u2019t a sustainable
\nbusiness model in the long term.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology was evolving into
\nsomething new every week. No one could keep up with the pace and the choice of
\ntechnology available began to dilute the market for games. It was the original
\nprint-on-demand model, but without the need for a middleman, but then came the
\nsaturation as the industry grew ever larger.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"1980s<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The 80s Handheld by Mark Taylor – Available in the coming days on my store! I love, love, love, painting these!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem with such market
\nsaturation was that unless you developed for every system, it wasn\u2019t viable,
\nand it also wasn\u2019t viable to develop for every system. Here in the UK, there
\nwere three original staples of the home computer market, The Sinclair ZX
\nSpectrum which sold phenomenally well in the UK. It was sold as the Timex
\nSinclair 2068 in the USA where it didn\u2019t do very well at all. Then there was
\nThe Commodore 64 which did incredibly well everywhere, and the Amstrad CPC464
\nwhich I don\u2019t believe made it anywhere outside of Europe in significant numbers.
\nThere were plenty of other systems, Oric, Acorn, MSX, but none would really
\nfind similar market sizes that the Spectrum, Commodore and Amstrad had found. <\/span><\/p>\n

Those three systems were the
\nsystems that you would develop for if you wanted to find an eager market, but
\nas 16-bit microcomputers and consoles began to gain popularity, the base of
\navailable models exponentially increased consumer choice and the development of
\nsoftware became exponentially more challenging. It would be an even greater
\nchallenge when the 32-bit systems such as the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast
\narrived.<\/span><\/p>\n

Commodore introduced the
\nAmiga, again, a system that didn\u2019t do overly well in the USA, but this was a
\nsystem that would go on to enable an artist by the name of Warhol to create
\nsome of the most iconic pop art of all time, and I have to say, he was creating
\non the Amiga much later than I was, he was simply better at marketing his work.
\nI still own my original Amiga and frequently still use it to create authentic
\nAmiga art.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"80s<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
80s Pop Music Culture Artwork by Mark Taylor<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

This is when everything
\nchanged. Suddenly, the lone bedroom coder had to become a team of people and
\ntoday, that team has become in some cases, 500 or 600 people strong, often
\nmore, in order to produce a modern video game. The other difference is that in
\nthe eighties, the limitations of the devices became the mother of creativity,
\ntoday, we are blessed with plenty of resources to more or less build whatever
\nwe can imagine and add some photorealistic images and a full orchestra in too.
\nIn the 80s, you had to be an efficient coder, today, the software is nowhere near
\nas efficient as it once was, despite its visual greatness. <\/span><\/p>\n

The other difference between
\nthen and now is that not only could you create a title for very little outlay
\nback in the eighties, you could also work on graphics and sound without relying
\non too many others. Today, you need the high side of a six-figure start-up fund
\nand at least eighteen months of development on specialist development hardware,
\njust to get close to getting your product to market. But, maybe the tide is
\nturning once again.<\/span><\/p>\n

What we are beginning to see
\ntoday is a return of the indie developer.\u00a0
\nSmall teams, sometimes even lone coders going up against the big
\nplayers, writing smaller games that are then sold via a platforms online store
\nas a digital download, or, as is more increasingly the case, as a limited
\nphysical edition release which is often targeted towards collectors. <\/span><\/p>\n

We are also seeing more and
\nmore retro remakes using modern hardware to replicate the look and feel of the
\nold-school equipment that we once owned, although some of the best remakes
\nstill require huge teams and significant budgets to bring to market. As an
\nexample, you would probably need something like $100,000 to stand any real
\nchance of success if you developed a title for the Nintendo Switch. <\/span><\/p>\n

Fast forward to today and the
\ngaming market that sprung up as a direct result of those early home computer
\ninnovations is now bigger than Hollywood. We\u2019re talking about an industry that spans
\nthe globe and is worth billions in revenue each year, and there\u2019s no sign of it
\nslowing down. Recent predictions suggest that the video games market will be
\nworth $200 billion per year by 2023. <\/span><\/p>\n

Much of the recent surge of
\npopularity around these old, now almost vintage systems rapidly increased
\nthroughout the pandemic, although interest in them had been gaining traction
\nfor a number of years pre-pandemic. Nostalgia has had a huge influence on the
\nmarket, and it has even spilt over into the art world with retro-inspired
\nvintage computer and gaming artworks becoming increasingly popular, especially
\nwhen you look at the number of works now appearing on platforms such as Etsy. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"data<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Data Corruption by Mark Taylor<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are looking for a niche
\nand have an interest or ideally a passion for all things vintage technology, it
\nis one of the few niches that you can dive into today that might very well
\nstill be a viable niche in a decade, and there is no other art niches that I
\ncan categorically say will grow quite as fast and still be popular so far in
\nthe future. <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of gaming-related artwork out there already and there are some great pieces to be found, equally, there is a lot of work out there already that is fairly generic and I have to
\nsay, there is quite a bit that lacks any understanding of the technologies that
\nit portrays. The more specialist works are also commanding higher prices, and
\nif you can bring a new idea to the market, there are buyers who are willing to pay
\na premium. <\/span><\/p>\n

We might not be talking about
\na Matisse original level of premium, but certainly, three or four-figure sums
\ninstead of two. A decade ago, some of my retro-inspired original works would
\nhang around the studio for a few months, today they tend to go out of the door
\nalmost immediately, and they are increasingly being requested as commissions. <\/span><\/p>\n

As we have seen throughout my
\nrecent blogs about creating retro-inspired works and looking at alternative
\nniches, your success in this will be determined by how well you stand out above
\neverything else that is already out there. <\/span><\/p>\n

Before you embark on a voyage
\nthroughout this niche as an artist, it has to be said that you ideally need to
\nhave at least some knowledge of vintage technology and\/or retro gaming, and
\nit\u2019s even better if you have a genuine passion for the subject, as you should
\nas an artist in whatever you create. <\/span><\/p>\n

The market for this kind of
\nartwork is very switched on to the many nuances of technology and if you ever
\nconfuse your Mario\u2019s with your Sonic\u2019s, the community will let you know, often
\nquite brutally. It can be a difficult niche to enter if you aren\u2019t currently
\ncreating in the genre, at least until you begin to form relationships with the
\ncommunity. Thankfully, the community, wherever they are around the world are
\nalmost always willing to engage with you in return.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"printed<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
All of my work is created by hand using tools such as Procreate – each line on the board was drawn using an Apple Pencil in this piece. This was a WIP shot of my PCB artwork – more than 60-hours of drawing lines had been completed at this point!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

As I intimated earlier, buyers
\npay a premium for technology and gaming-inspired art that isn\u2019t generic, but
\nyou also have to be mindful, especially if you chase the video games market,
\nthat you don\u2019t inadvertently stumble into an intellectual property fight with
\nthe likes of Nintendo, or \u201cNinten-don\u2019t\u201d as they have become affectionately
\nknown. <\/span><\/p>\n

Companies like Nintendo are
\nfiercely protective of their IPR as are many others. It\u2019s also worth noting
\nthat companies have been set up with the specific intention of buying out the
\nintellectual property rights of long lost companies with the sole purpose of
\nscouting the internet for unauthorised and unpaid use of old IPR. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some modern companies with
\nhugely popular back catalogues actually encourage fan art projects on a
\nnon-commercial basis, but there is a fine line when it comes to making any kind
\nof profit from the work. There are a few who are perhaps a little more willing
\nto negotiate the rights to use older IPR in works, although you might find that
\nthere is a curation process alongside a licensing fee that will need to be
\npaid. No company wants to see their 8-bit character shown in a bad light.<\/span><\/p>\n

The good thing about vintage
\ntechnology is that, whilst you do have to respect the general principles, you
\ncan also take some artistic licence. People tend to value the feeling of
\nnostalgia that the art brings over and above any precise technical detail, well,
\nmostly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Creating technology inspired
\nartwork\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Throughout this article, you
\nmight have noticed some of my more recent works inspired by vintage technology,
\nsome of which is now being reproduced as mixed media pieces using original
\ncomponents. One of the pieces I am working on at the moment is to create a
\nclock that uses an enterprise-grade Cisco router, a device that cost over $1000
\n( \u00a3728 UK) a few years ago, but since the model is now end of life and is no
\nlonger upgradeable with security patches, there is no place for it in any
\ncorporate or home network. By extracting value from turning it into a piece of
\nfunctional art, it becomes one less component destined for a landfill. <\/span><\/p>\n

The paintings I have created
\nhave all been hand-drawn and painted using Procreate on the iPad Pro before
\nbeing refined further in Photoshop\/Illustrator and in some cases, using
\noriginal hardware from the period. Some of the works are more than 70inches in
\nsize when printed out at full size, and they have been included in my Retro Revival
\ncollection of artworks which has become increasingly popular with its focus on
\nthe golden age of video games and home computers in the 1980s.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"electronics<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Together in Electric Dreams by Mark Taylor – available from my stores now!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure there is a
\nspecific term that defines the entire home computing\/retro-inspired art genre
\nthat also encompasses e-waste art, so I prefer to call it collectively, E-Art,
\nperhaps it could make it as a new art movement. One thing I do know is that there\u2019s
\ncertainly not enough of it about right now!<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the most inspiring
\nworks I have seen made out of e-waste recently have been themed around
\nSteampunk. It\u2019s a popular genre that has a significant market share of upcycled
\nworks in the art world. Take a look online and you will find artists who have
\ncreated everything from shoes to coffee tables out of e-waste, even 3D skyline
\nlandscapes of famous cities, and they\u2019re attracting collectors who are willing
\nto pay that all-important premium price. More importantly, buyers in this genre
\ntend to quickly turn into collectors. <\/span><\/p>\n

Small printed circuit boards
\nare being turned into keyrings and jewellery, speakers are being transformed
\ninto lamps, cables have been turned into paper towel holders and even an iMac
\nclone. You can find the projects and instructions to recreate these things
\nright here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding Micro-controlled
\ninteractivity into your artwork\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

I kind of remember when any
\ncomputer would take up about the same floor space as a large house, although by
\nthe time I started to use them they were by then, comparatively pocket-sized
\nuntil later in my career when I began working with data centre based
\ninfrastructure. Fast forward to today and not only does the smartphone you are
\nreading this article on have more power than was used to launch a man into space,
\nyou can now accommodate an entire computer on a single chip. A quick technical
\nnote here, your phone might be more powerful than NASA’s space era technology,
\nbut it still can\u2019t launch a man into space!<\/span><\/p>\n

Devices and computers on a
\nsingle chip are now increasingly common, there\u2019s a good chance that something
\nyou already own has an FPGA device within it. Field Programmable Gate Array
\n(FPGA) is a semiconductor device that is based around a matrix of logic blocks.
\nIn non-geek speak, that means that you can essentially create almost whatever
\ndevice you want on a chip and then reprogram it later to become something else.<\/span><\/p>\n

FPGA can be complicated for a
\nfirst-timer, it\u2019s not something I would dabble with had I not have been using
\nFPGA technology in other projects for a few years, but there are easier options
\nif you want to embed technology within a piece of artwork. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you have ever used an
\nemulator on a computer, and you might have done without realising it, for
\nexample, if you have ever played an old video game on a modern system, then
\nemulation of some kind was probably involved, especially if any part of the
\ngame relied on or used the original game file. That would have been software
\nemulation, or in short, not quite like the real thing. FPGA is full-on
\nhardware emulation and pretty much it becomes the real thing in a modern and
\noften tiny package. <\/span><\/p>\n

Using a MiSTeR FPGA device, I
\nbuilt an entire arcade machine that is capable of running over 70,000 video
\ngames from a multitude of video and arcade game systems and home computers and
\nit all runs on a device that is barely bigger than the palm of your hand. FPGA
\ndoes have a downside right now when it comes to a device such as a MiSTeR, it\u2019s
\nexpensive, although it can be done much more cost-effectively when it is
\nfocused on recreating a single device.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slightly easier and cheap
\nenough to instil into an art project is the Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi<\/b>\u00a0is
\na series of small\u00a0single-board computers\u00a0(SBCs) developed in
\nthe\u00a0United Kingdom\u00a0by the\u00a0Raspberry Pi Foundation\u00a0in
\nassociation with\u00a0Broadcom. The Raspberry Pi project originally leaned
\ntowards the promotion of teaching basic\u00a0computer science\u00a0in schools
\nand in\u00a0developing countries. <\/span><\/p>\n

The original model became more
\npopular than anticipated,\u00a0selling outside its\u00a0target market\u00a0for
\nuses such as\u00a0robotics. It is widely used in many areas, such as
\nfor\u00a0weather monitoring and\u00a0because of its low cost, modularity, and
\nopen design. It is typically used by computer and electronic hobbyists, due to
\nits adoption of HDMI and USB devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s what makes the
\nRaspberry Pi such a great device to incorporate into art projects, and
\nespecially devices such as the Raspberry Pi Zero or PICO which only cost around
\ntwenty dollars for the most basic versions. The question I guess, is just how
\nmuch of a technology expert do you need to be to create an art project that
\ninvolves this kind of tech? <\/span><\/p>\n

I think, for the most part, the
\ncreative process is going to be the most problematic aspect. When you realise
\njust what the possibilities are, it can feel overwhelming to settle on the one
\nidea that will add some value to any particular piece of art to turn it into an
\ninteractive work, or a work that has the added depth of working technology
\nembedded within it. <\/span><\/p>\n

As far as the technology
\nitself goes, that is perhaps the easiest part because there is a huge community
\nboth active and willing to provide help and support. I think it is one of the
\nbest communities for knowledge sharing that I have ever come across. Virtually
\nanyone can learn how to use a Raspberry Pi just from watching 30-minutes of
\ntutorials on YouTube, and if you utilise pre-configured SD-Cards, anyone can have
\na project completed and built within a very short space of time. <\/span><\/p>\n

It would be awesome if you
\nunderstood the programming language they call Linux, but for the most part, you
\nare able to purchase those pre-configured SD-Cards I just mentioned with both the
\noperating system and the application pre-installed. Your role is to then
\nassemble a few simple components using the vast library of tutorials available
\non the internet or from the hundreds of books that have been written on the
\nsubject, slide in the pre-configured SD Card and turn the power on.<\/span><\/p>\n

The versatility of the Pi is
\nunsurpassed. You can quite literally buy an accessory that will make the device
\ndo almost anything you could imagine. From inexpensive high definition touch
\nscreens to home automation and robotics, cameras, facial recognition, and if you
\nneed a very cheap PC, you can even use a Pi as a fully-featured computer,
\nespecially if you have the latest Raspberry Pi 4.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have seen Windows 10 functioning
\nbetter on a Pi than one of my old laptops, so it is, without doubt, the cheapest
\nway to get into computing and many of these devices have been used throughout
\nthe pandemic to allow children to access their schoolwork and participate in
\nremote lessons, this is especially useful when finances have been drained a
\nlittle too much and there\u2019s a need to use a computer or access the internet.
\nPi\u2019s today are perfectly capable computers in their own right.<\/span><\/p>\n

Generally, if you can think of it, there is a device that has been made to attach to the Pi that will allow
\nyou to execute the idea, usually for pennies on the dollar compared to other
\ntechnologies. Who wouldn\u2019t want to add artificial intelligence to an
\nabstract painting of the mind?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"raspberry<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Raspberry Pi is built within an official keyboard – Image copyright Pi and Pimoroni – the best place to buy Pi devices!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

There are some materials and
\ncomponents that you definitely want to avoid in your e-waste art projects, used
\nbatteries that can leak, any materials containing lead and mercury, and smoke
\nalarms that actually contain radioactive components are probably the most
\nobvious components to avoid. Always check that the materials you are using are
\nnot only safe for you to handle, but they\u2019re legal and safe for you to resell.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will also want to take
\nsome precautions when creating your projects, especially when using old PCBs
\nwhich can have very sharp edges, and using a soldering iron to deconstruct and
\nreconstruct projects is fraught with risks, not only are they hot, they can set
\nfire to anything they are resting on. That might sound obvious, but sadly it\u2019s
\nnot, I have known people who have picked up a hot soldering iron by the tip
\nrather than the handle. <\/span><\/p>\n

Use a soldering mat to avoid
\ndamage to surfaces and if you can, use a heat resistant silicone soldering mat
\nas this has the benefit of providing some additional grip to prevent components from slipping. Soldering irons should never be placed on a surface that doesn\u2019t have
\na heat resistant mat, instead, they should be stored when you are not using them
\nwithin a specialist soldering iron stand but these are inexpensive enough for
\nyou to not have to worry too much about set-up costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are thinking about
\ndeconstructing old electronics, it is worth researching the value of them
\nbefore you do. A sealed iPhone 1 in its original packaging is currently on sale
\non eBay for \u00a320,000 although an unsealed original boxed iPhone 1 is going to be
\ncloser to \u00a32,000. <\/span><\/p>\n

You also need to be cautious
\nwhen comparing the prices of vintage computers and technology. Many eBay sellers
\nwill describe their Commodore 64 home computers as being super-rare and will
\ninherently place a high value on the items. A person’s own nostalgia is worth
\nnothing at all to someone else, and as many as 30-million Commodore 64s may
\nhave been manufactured, although some sources state it was closer to 22-million
\nunits. With that in mind, the Commodore 64 isn\u2019t actually rare at all, many of
\nthem are packed in boxes in attics having been forgotten about, they\u2019re not
\nrare, they\u2019re just in hiding and that\u2019s the same with most vintage
\ntechnologies. The tech that is perhaps genuinely worth more will be prototype
\nunits or tech that only ever found a very limited market. Equally, you have to
\nbe mindful that this too isn\u2019t the bar to set a value against, I own some very
\nrare technology, but its value will be from nostalgia rather than being
\nmonetary.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the same with a lot of
\nvintage technology, although prices have gone even crazier recently after
\nthe graded sealed copy of Super Mario for the Nintendo Entertainment System
\nsold for over a million dollars. There was though, a very specific set of
\ncircumstances that led to that price.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to some websites and
\nexperts, the price the game sold for happened in a way that\u2019s not too
\ndissimilar to the way the murky parts of the art world operate, allegedly, but
\nit did begin to drive retro prices up and up more widely for everything,
\ndespite there being no real reason for prices to increase. What it did do was
\nto encourage more people to dig out lost treasures from their attics and list
\nthem on sites such as eBay for exorbitant prices.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can find the full story on
\nthe Mario game and the auction online, and a number of conflicting views around
\nwhy the game reached such an eye-watering price. There is an explanatory video
\non YouTube that may or may not present what really happened, of course, I\u2019m not
\nconvinced we will ever know for sure. If you read about it or watch the videos
\nthat have been posted online and you are familiar with the stories from the
\nmurkier parts of the art world, I\u2019m sure you will see more than a few similarities!
\nJust Google the term, exposing fraud and deception in the retro video game
\nmarket and you will find videos that allege what might or might not have
\nhappened.<\/span><\/p>\n

We artists do love to research
\nour subjects before attempting our next masterpiece so you will be pleased to
\nfind out that the internet generally has you covered with enough information to
\nprovide you with sufficient knowledge that will more than get you started. <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve broken the links down
\ninto sections so that you can pick the most relevant ones to gain a better
\nunderstanding of what you want to do, be that create 8-bit retro computer
\nart, find out the history of any specific computer, or listen to podcasts that
\ncover all things retro and vintage computing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Boombox<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turn It Up by Mark Taylor – available now from my store!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Low End Mac:<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

If you are already into retro
\nand love your Mac, you might have already come across a website called, Low End
\nMac where they guide you through keeping your Mac alive for as long as
\npossible. What you might have missed is a feature on the history of Commodore\u2019s
\n8-bit computer range. You can find Low End Mac right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gamasutra: <\/span><\/b>More
\nof a general IT related website but with a decent history of Atari\u2019s 8-bit era
\nfor those who didn\u2019t buy into the Commodore machines. Back in the day, there
\nwere only two real choices outside of the UK, Atari and Commodore. You can find
\nthe Atari article right here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Old Computers: <\/span><\/b>Old
\nComputers is by far one of the best resources to learn about old computers,
\nthere are currently 1261 systems represented, most with information about the
\ndevices, the peripherals, software and a copy of the original documentation in
\nsome cases. I\u2019m not convinced this site gets anywhere near as much love as
\npeople ought to give it, but I can spend hours on it just browsing systems that
\nwere only available in other countries. You know they still manufacture the
\nSega Genesis in Brazil right? You can find the online museum right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vintage Computing: <\/span><\/b>Vintage
\nComputing and Gaming have a wealth of retro information and it\u2019s not just about
\ncomputers. Toys are represented here too, specifically the kind of early
\nelectronic toys that we would once see in Radio Shack, or Tandy as it was known
\nhere in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\n

I had completely forgotten
\nabout the Radio Shack Armatron, The Takara My Robot Watch which was an
\nalternative to Transformers, and there are a number of 80s adverts scattered
\naround which, if nothing else, will either provide you with a healthy dose of
\nnostalgia or remind you that graphic design today can at times, be really dull
\nin comparison.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can find Vintage Computing
\nand Gaming, right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Byte Cellar: <\/span><\/b>I
\nstumbled across Byte Cellar while looking for Apple accessories online and
\nfound a personalised cut wood Apple logo sign from 1984, sadly, I don\u2019t as yet
\nhave one of these in my collection. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are a lot of systems
\nrepresented here, the iconic TRS-80 which I still need to get my hands on
\nbecause it was a great little development machine, and the early Woz and Jobs
\nera Apple machines seem to be well represented. You can find Byte Cellar right
\nhere<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stack Exchange \u2013 Retro
\nComputing: <\/span><\/b>I have to admit, with such a need to consume
\neverything tech-related, I can often be found exploring Stack Exchange \u2013
\nusually for answers to some strange coding issue I have come up against when
\nprogramming 8-bit artworks. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is also a Retro Computing
\nStack Exchange where questions get asked and answers are given. This is an
\nideal site if you are researching older technologies for art projects, the
\ncommunity are eager to support everyone with even the smallest of questions,
\nand they\u2019re knowledgeable. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is the site that also
\ntouches on pre-8-bit computing, namely the times of punch cards, and mainframes
\nsuch as the Russian Strela from 1953, a system that played a pivotal role in
\nthe Cold War. You can ask all of your retro technology and computing questions
\nright here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Centre for Computing
\nHistory: <\/span><\/b>Based in Cambridge, here in the UK, the Centre for
\nComputing History is much more than a museum, it hosts hands-on exhibitions,
\neducational workshops and a wide range of activities and events. If you plan to
\nvisit in person, it\u2019s only open on weekends, and there is an on-site shop that
\nsells everything from a MyZ80 maker kit to floppy disk notepads, and icons of
\nbeige computer poster prints. <\/span><\/p>\n

Upcoming events which might be
\nuseful for those in the UK who want to start developing skills to add
\ntechnology into art will find the Pico Clock event useful where you will learn
\nto build and program the Raspberry Pi Pico! You can find out more here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vintage Is The New Old: <\/span><\/b>One of
\nthe things I really like about Vintage is the New Old, are the news articles
\nthat often showcase recent Kickstarter projects, often projects that are art-related and vintage technology focussed. Recently there was an article on a
\nKickstarter to create a deck of 52 playing cards, each paying homage to a
\nclassic video game, with each card promising some sweet 8-bit pixel art. You
\ncan find the site right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Commodore News: <\/span><\/b>I know
\nI have a lot of readers from the USA and I am always minded to research things
\nthat will be suited to both US and UK audiences, and with that in mind,
\nCommodore News might be just the site that US and UK audiences will both love
\ngiven the popularity of the machine in both territories. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Commodore 64 was huge over
\nhere in the UK and Europe, but until the Nintendo Entertainment System arrived,
\nthe C64 was the defacto 8-bit computer of choice in the USA, alongside the
\nTRS-80 (also lovingly referred to as the Trash 80!)<\/span><\/p>\n

For those considering using
\nthe Commodore as a source of artistic inspiration, it will be good to know that
\nthe machine is still huge today and there is an avid army of retro-heads,
\nmyself included, who still continue to both use and develop for the machine
\neven today. <\/span><\/p>\n

Visit retro fairs and there
\nwill still be deep queues forming around anything related to the breadbin of
\ncomputers, so-called because of its distinct breadbin-like shape. The modern
\nC64 scene is perhaps the most vibrant of all of the retro communities. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to find out the
\nlatest developments and news, then head over to Commodore News, right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Raspberry<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Raspberry Pi 4 from Pimoroni – This is a fantastic computer that can do almost anything you can imagine!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

The Commodore Amiga wasn\u2019t an
\nimmediate follow up to the Commodore 64, there was also the Commodore Plus 4
\nand Commodore 16 along with a couple of other variants and we almost got to the
\npoint of seeing the Commodore 65 land in the wild before Commodore fell into
\nbankruptcy, although a few prototypes did make it out into the wild and the
\nmachine is finally being released as a recreation. An original C65 prototype
\nwill set you back around $20,000 – $25,000 today. The Commodore Amiga was
\nhugely successful in Europe, not so much in the USA, but it has become the Holy
\nGrail for some US-based collectors of late.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Amiga was an incredibly
\nimportant computer in the digital art scene. Programs such as Delux Paint
\npredated Photoshop and gave users an incredible amount of power over digital
\nimaging, it was also the preferred tool for Warhol who used the Commodore Amiga
\nto produce some of the most iconic pop art of our time.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Amiga was also legendary
\nfor its music power, with chip-tunes created by demo groups of the time that
\nare now highly sought after by collectors of the early demo scene floppies, discs
\nthat would often also contain cracked versions of commercial software with a
\nmusical intro created by hacking collectives of the day. I can neither confirm
\nnor deny that I was involved in the demo scene for obvious reasons that would
\nprobably implicate me in the grey art of breaking disc copy protection. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Atari ST (and later the
\nAtari Falcon which didn\u2019t do anywhere near as well) would be utilised alongside
\nthe Amiga for its incredible, for the time, ability to act as a MIDI
\ncontroller, and between both machines, the digital arts and music scene was to
\nbecome well established. <\/span><\/p>\n

I still use both my Commodore
\n64 and my Commodore Amiga for creating original digital art and a little games
\ndevelopment whenever I have the time. They are incredibly important machines
\nand anyone who is into digital art should definitely understand where digital
\nart and music really originated. The scene today is arguably just as vibrant as
\nit once was, and collectors and fans of the machines provide a ready-made
\nmarket for artists who utilise the systems in art projects. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can find out more right
\nhere<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Atariage: <\/span><\/b>In the
\nUSA, it was all about Atari. Youngsters would never admit to playing video
\ngames, instead, they would play Atari. Atari was also one of the most
\ninfluential companies in the history of computing and video games releasing the
\nAtari 2600 Video Computer System on the 11th<\/sup> September 1977. <\/span><\/p>\n

The company ran into trouble
\njust ahead of the video game bubble burst of 1984 in the States, having
\nmanufactured more ET game cartridges for the 2600 than there were 2600 consoles
\nin existence. They then buried those that were never sold in the desert. Some
\nwere dug up relatively recently and some even still played the game without any
\nissues when inserted into a working console, despite having been buried in sand
\nfor decades. ET as a game it has to be said was pretty bad and it disappointed
\na lot of folk including me. <\/span><\/p>\n

Atariage is perhaps the best
\nknown Atari website of the modern-day, and you can find it here<\/a>. <\/span>It\u2019s
\nalso worth noting that the Atari VCS has recently been re-released, and the
\nverdict, it\u2019s nowhere near the same as it was, and fans who bought into it are
\nfirmly split into two camps, lovers, and haters. It looks really cool though.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lemon 64<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

I mentioned emulators earlier,
\nC64 forever is one such emulator that focuses on the Commodore 64 (others are
\navailable) and it comes complete with a library of original games and it is
\navailable through the Lemon 64 site. If your research extends to the history of
\nthe C64, then Lemon 64 is perhaps one of the finest C64 resources out there.
\nYou can find it right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Raspberry Pi and Raspberry Pi
\nArt Projects\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

If you have ever considered
\ncreating a truly interactive art project that utilises technology, the
\ncomplexity might very well have put you off from even trying. Enter the
\nRaspberry Pi. <\/span><\/p>\n

Raspberry Pi on Toms Hardware:
\n<\/span><\/b>There
\nare some great ideas on this site here<\/a>, <\/span>that
\nwill get your creative minds thinking about how you might want to incorporate a
\nRaspberry Pi type device into your next art project.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Raspberry Pi scary picture
\nframe would be an ideal addition for Halloween, albeit probably a little too
\nlate to get something produced for this year, although there is a simpler
\nTurning Jack-O-Lantern. Perhaps you might want to create a George Orwell
\ninspired 1984 style facial recognition artwork, although be mindful of any data
\nprotection issues that might arise if you display the work in public!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Inky<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inky 7 colour screen available from Pimoroni – what a great art project this would make!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Pimoroni: <\/span><\/b>This
\nis one site that is frequently recommended to me as a brilliant single source
\nof Pi-related devices and components, so much so that my next Pi order will be
\nheading over to them. Pimoroni offer worldwide shipping and prices are some of
\nthe lowest I have come across, even if you have to factor in import taxes,
\nalthough they do have a network of global distributors. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is also where the
\npotential to utilise a Pi and technology in your art projects becomes financially
\npossible. The HyperPixel high-resolution screens come either in a traditional
\nrectangular format, or as a circular display, and they are touch-sensitive,
\nmaking them perfect for interactive projects, or to utilise at art shows and
\nexhibitions. The colours really pop on the screens and I can think of a hundred
\nand one ways to bring an artwork to life with a Pi and one of these screens, or
\neven multiple screens. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Hyper<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hyper Pixel Touch Screen available from Pimoroni<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Hyper<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Available from Pimoroni – Hyper Pixel Touch Screen – traditional shape<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

There are other devices, so
\nmany other devices that you will only get a sense of the number and variety of
\nthem if you visit Pimoroni\u2019s website, but of all of them, the most obvious to
\ninclude in art projects for me would be the audio amplifiers and air quality
\nmonitors which would be a fantastic addition to artworks focussing on issues
\nsuch as global warming.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Audio<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio Amp for Raspberry Pi – available from Pimoroni – I have found Pimoroni to have the best range of Pi Products on the planet!
<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Retro Podcasts\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

If you prefer to listen to
\nhistory rather than reading about it, there are a number of retro podcasts,
\nalthough all are not created equal. I listen to a lot of retro podcasts and
\nhave probably listened to at least a couple of episodes of most of them that
\nhave been created over the years, so I have picked the best of the best that
\nare currently on my daily podcast playlist to share with you!<\/span><\/p>\n

Retronauts: <\/span><\/b>Retronauts
\nis described by the hosts as America\u2019s favourite games podcast\u2026 probably. The
\nwebsite to accompany the show is full of articles and includes videos so you
\ncan not only listen to the show but visit the site to get even more context
\naround whatever they\u2019re discussing. The shows are around 90-minutes long as
\nmany of the shorter shows are and podcasts are released a couple of times a
\nweek. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can find the website and
\nlinks to the podcast to play in your podcast player of choice, right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Retro Hour: <\/span><\/b>One of
\nmy most listened to podcasts is The Retro Hour, a British podcast with hosts
\nwho record the shows every week, and not too far away in Nottingham. Dan, Ravi,
\nand Joe bring exclusive interviews with some of the greatest names in the
\nindustry, from Atari veterans to modern-day developers who have worked on some
\nof the latest retro remakes. The Retro Hour Podcast is a founding member of
\n\u2018The Videogame Heritage Society\u2019 alongside\u00a0BFI, National Science and Media
\nMuseum, Museum of London, C64 Audio, Centre for Computing History, Bath Spa
\nUniversity and the British Library.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want a definitive
\nhistory of vintage computing, then you can find it right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maximum
\nPowerup: <\/span><\/b>Another great podcast, especially for collectors of vintage
\ncomputer and gaming magazines and publications. Some of the past episodes have
\nbought interviews from some of the early video game journalists, reviewers, and
\neditors who shaped computer and videogame journalism in a pre-internet era. It
\nis an incredibly important and historic look back at an industry that didn\u2019t
\ndocument its own progress very well, if at all, during the early years. <\/span><\/p>\n

You
\ncan find Maximum Power Up right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Retro
\nAsylum:<\/span><\/b> If you are looking for a nostalgia hit, Retro Asylum is
\nanother podcast that reflects on times past and also provides useful tips for
\nretro collectors and enthusiasts. Covering computers and games consoles from
\nall over the world, although, with a heavy hint of the popular systems available
\nin Britain, the team have extensive knowledge of all-things-retro. <\/span><\/p>\n

This
\nis perhaps one of the most authoritative podcasts on the subject and there are
\nplenty of past episodes to listen to. It\u2019s a little like having a conversation
\nabout retro with friends in a pub on a Friday night!\u00a0 You can find the Retro Asylum right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"work<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
This is one of my latest works in progress – massively popular in the 80s, the CB Radio! Who remembers the astounding K40 antenna? My handle was Mr Wimpy! Based on the character from the British fast-food chain that is still selling fast food in a few remaining restaurants today! Stay Tuned for More on this one!!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Arcade Attack: <\/span><\/b>Covering
\na range of arcade games and retro consoles, Arcade Attack is another podcast
\nthat reflects on the history of video games and home consoles, PC and even the
\nretro scene on the Nintendo Switch. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are also a number of
\ncelebrity interviews from the likes of Al Acorn (of Atari and Pong fame), Rob
\nHubbard, who has to be one of the most prolific and most revered video game
\nmusicians ever, and there is a great interview from Tom Kalinske, one of the
\nmain driving forces who were behind Sega in the 1990s. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can find Arcade Attack
\nright here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RGDS: Retro Gaming Discussion
\nShow: <\/span><\/b>RGDS began as a podcast back in 2014 and has since covered
\nthousands of historic video arcade games from developers all around the world.
\nDiscussing platforms such as the Panasonic 3DO, Gameboy, classic Nintendo
\nconsoles, Atari, PlayStation 1, right the way through to modern remakes of
\nclassic games, the show is chock full of information. You can find RGDS right
\nhere<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ten Pence Arcade<\/span><\/b>:
\nFocussing on video games culture between the 70s to the mid-90s, the Ten Pence
\narcade also covers some of the lesser-known systems from the time. There are
\nalso features around the restoration of video games cabinets and arcade PCBs, so if
\nyou are one of the growing numbers of people who are jumping on the recent surge
\nto have an arcade machine in your own home, then this is probably one of the
\nbest sources of information you will find. They also cover emulation, a method
\nwith which you can emulate many of the systems on today’s modern PCs and Macs.
\nYou can find the site and the podcast right here<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ted Dabney Experience: <\/span><\/b>In
\nassociation with The American Classic Arcade Museum, the Ted Dabney Experience
\nis a serious conversation about the golden age video arcade greats. With some
\nof the most iconic interviews, often with the original people involved in the
\nbirth of games and systems back in the 70s and 80s, this is another definitive
\nhistory that is being documented in a professional way.<\/span><\/p>\n

The hosts, Paul Drury, Tony
\nTemple, and Richard May, all have a deep connection to the industry. Paul
\nwrites for Retro Gamer Magazine, a British magazine that is also popular in the
\nUSA, Tony holds the Guinness Book of Records for his high score on Atari\u2019s
\nMissile Command, and Richard was co-founder of the popular geek-culture \u2018design
\nportal\u2019 website, Pixelsurgeon. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since 1998, Richard has been a
\nfreelance illustrator with clients such as WIRED, Edge, Computer Arts,
\nWaitrose, Nordstrom, New Scientist and The Guardian. His long-term relationship
\nwith British rock band Echobelly has seen him design the covers for the
\nmajority of their post-Britpop era releases, so if you are still in any doubt
\nthat this is a history that is also steeped in art, Richard is probably all the
\nproof that you need. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can find the Ted Dabney
\nExperience right here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Retro Magazines: <\/span><\/b>I
\ncollect vintage computing, gaming and technology magazines and now have a
\ncollection that is in the high three digits and growing. From both a design and
\ntechnology perspective, they represent a stark contrast to the technology
\navailable today and because the magazines are for the most part, in a physical
\nformat from the pre-internet era, there is a sense of nostalgia every time I
\npick one up. <\/span><\/p>\n

Today, it\u2019s rare to see a
\ncomputer magazine, though back in the 80s and 90s there were at least two or
\nthree magazines on the shelves for each of the many systems. What often stands
\nout is the design and publishing standards of the time, not forgetting the copy
\ncontained within each magazine, they\u2019re sometimes also representative of the
\ntime when there were very few editorial standards around political correctness
\nand I find that it can be a fascinating insight into just how much the world
\nhas changed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Retro Gamer: <\/span><\/b>Talking
\nof magazines, if I didn\u2019t let you in on the retro world\u2019s best-kept secret, I
\nwouldn\u2019t be doing any justice to the history of gaming. I mentioned Retro Gamer
\nearlier, and this is a magazine that I am lucky enough to own every issue of. <\/span><\/p>\n

Published monthly in a
\nphysical and digital format, Retro Gamer since 2004, is a publication that
\nlooks back at the entire history of retro through reviews, interviews, and
\nfeatures and the publishing standards are outstanding. The magazine itself has
\nbecome a bit of a collector’s item of late, and it\u2019s also one of the few
\nremaining physical gaming magazines available on the shelves in news stores. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is a no-nonsense
\napproach that feels down to earth and familiar and often there is a humorous
\nwriting style that doesn\u2019t take itself too seriously. The copy is always very well
\nwritten and edited and the production values, especially with the subscriber-only cover editions are in themselves an art gallery of gaming\u2019s greatest
\nmoments. <\/span><\/p>\n

Covering every major computer
\nand system, the magazine provides plenty of information every month, and it
\nprovides the inspiration to go out and search for some of the lost gems from a
\nprevious age that we might not have played, or played a lot and then forgot
\nabout. You can subscribe wherever you are in the world and the link to the
\nsubscription can be found on the Retro Gamer website here<\/a>, <\/span>or you
\ncan purchase a physical copy from all good newsagents in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Importance of Computing in
\nthe Digital Art World\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The history of computing and
\nvideo games is fascinating and it\u2019s not something that is reserved purely for
\ngaming enthusiasts, there is enough history throughout the above websites for
\nyou to get at least a small idea of just how incredibly important early
\ncomputers and video games systems are to the modern age. <\/span><\/p>\n

Without the likes of Delux
\nPaint on the Amiga, a precursor to Photoshop, it\u2019s fair to say that early
\ncomputers defined the way that we create digital art today. It\u2019s also
\nsurprising to find out things like the Sega Genesis (Megadrive outside of the
\nUSA) is still being manufactured and supported in Brazil, despite being last
\nmanufactured by Sega in 1997. The podcasts are always full of information that
\nwill sometimes make you say wow, and other times make you say oh dear. They are
\nthough, performing an incredibly important role in their quests to document
\nand retain the information that is quickly becoming lost.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the podcasts also
\nreflect back on the decades between the 70s and 90s, often covering popular
\nculture of the time and not just computers and video game consoles, if you have
\nfond memories of any of those decades then you\u2019re likely to find something of
\ninterest beyond the subjects of computing and gaming. <\/span><\/p>\n

Happy Creating!<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Hopefully, you will have found
\nthis week\u2019s article at least a little useful if you plan on utilising
\ntechnology in your artwork. Being a long-time collector of technology, gaming
\nplatforms and video games, I have a huge passion for anything and everything
\nthat involves electronics. <\/span><\/p>\n

I even have a collection of
\nvintage gaming and computer magazines and am always on the lookout for more,
\nespecially magazines from the USA which I missed out on here in the UK. I love
\ncomparing the industry around the world and there\u2019s nothing more retro than
\nsitting down with a coffee and flipping through the pages of a physical
\nmagazine with the phone turned off and not a screen in sight!<\/span><\/p>\n

I mentioned earlier that I
\nnever throw technology away, but in my younger days I did sell on computers
\nthat I had owned for a while so that I could purchase the next latest model. My
\nparents funded what they could but that usually meant waiting until machines
\ncame on offer towards the end of the model’s life, or as a result of me saving
\nup. Since then, all I seem to have done is try to replace whatever I sold in my
\nyounger days and lived with the regret that I sold some hyper-rare items for
\npennies on the dollar compared to what they are worth today, both in a monetary
\nand nostalgic sense. <\/span><\/p>\n

Even some of the magazines
\nthat I had read at the time made me get that warm, safe, fuzzy feeling, and my
\nown video games were advertised in some, yet I still don\u2019t have a single copy
\nof a magazine that featured any of my work, or any of the many letters I would
\nwrite to the letters pages which got published. I also passed up the
\nopportunity to work in video games journalism after being head-hunted at the
\nage of 14, a regret I carry to this day. By headhunted, I mean they were pretty much, taking anyone on who knew how to play video games and write BASIC programs! Big regret, massive, my life could have been so different!<\/span><\/p>\n

I have to admit that my
\ndigital art studio has become more museum-like over the past few years, but my
\never-growing collection always manages to provide an abundance of inspiration
\nfor my eighties inspired work, and I can justify it by calling it research
\nrather than hoarding! So, if you are sorting out your attic and need to find a
\nhome for any old computers, vintage computing magazines, or if you need to
\neither know more about them or donate them to a good home, I\u2019m all ears and
\nalways willing to find space! My bank manager agrees that I should just cut out
\nthe middle-man and exchange my art directly for vintage systems. Maybe they
\nshould create a special version of Patreon where I get funded in tech in return
\nfor art!<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s all for this time, but
\nkeep an eye open for a future article on popular culture and art through the
\n70s, 80s and 90s, which might just give you a clue as to what my next artworks
\nare likely to feature!<\/span><\/p>\n

As always, stay safe, stay
\nwell, and look after each other, oh, and Happy Creating!<\/span><\/p>\n

Mark x<\/span><\/p>\n

About Mark\u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

I am an artist and blogger and
\nlive in Staffordshire, England. My days are filled with art, dog walking and Teams
\nMeetings, while still being stuck somewhere in the eighties. You can purchase
\nmy art through my Fine Art America store or my Pixels site here:\u00a0https:\/\/10-mark-taylor.pixels.com<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and
\nyou can purchase my new works, special and limited editions directly. You can
\nalso view my portfolio website at\u00a0https:\/\/beechhousemedia.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If you are on Facebook, you
\ncan give me a follow right here, \u00a0https:\/\/facebook.com\/beechhousemedia<\/a>\u00a0
\nYou can also follow me on Twitter @beechhouseart and on Pinterest at\u00a0https:\/\/pinterest.com\/beechhousemedia<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Painting the Eighties, one bit at a time\u2026 Painting the 80s One Bit At A Time! If you have ever wanted to create interactive artworks or artworks from alternative mediums such as electronic waste, this week\u2019s article has you covered with tips, market insights, and even a brief history of early eighties computing and how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":236579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[1885,87488,4015,548],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-236578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","tag-art","tag-eart","tag-inspired","tag-retro"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Art of Retro Inspired E-Art - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Art of Retro Inspired E-Art - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Painting the Eighties, one bit at a time\u2026 Painting the 80s One Bit At A Time! 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If you have ever wanted to create interactive artworks or artworks from alternative mediums such as electronic waste, this week\u2019s article has you covered with tips, market insights, and even a brief history of early eighties computing and how […]","og_url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578","og_site_name":"Som2ny Network","article_published_time":"2025-05-11T13:54:27+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":566,"url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Coverewasteart80s.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"56 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b85e3c3dc0e1daea076524dc8810c371"},"headline":"The Art of Retro Inspired E-Art","datePublished":"2025-05-11T13:54:27+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578"},"wordCount":11147,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Coverewasteart80s.jpg","keywords":["Art","EArt","Inspired","Retro"],"articleSection":["Art"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578","url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=236578","name":"The Art of Retro Inspired E-Art - 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